Arthritis in hands, what would a good knife choice?

L

lightskyam

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Mar 14, 2013
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I guess assisted opening would be the way to go, but I had one a few years ago and sold it because I was told it was illegal to carry assisted opening in my area. Any suggestions?
 
I was going to suggest a Scandinavian Grandfather's/Fisherman's knife with a short blade and a fat handle, but you probably aren't allowed to carry a fixed blade either.
There are easy-open jacks, where you can pinch the blades rather than pry them open with a thumbnail.
Maybe a friction folder like opinel or svord? The Opinel has a plain wooden handle that could be modified to make the blade easier to grip.
 
My mom has arthritis, she does pretty well with a spydie hole. Seems to be easier for her to operate than a thumb stud. She also does better with a lockback instead of framelocks. Maybe a Native?
 
Even though this is a knife forum we are rarely encouraged to give legal advice since local and state laws vary so much. I would say a good alternative to an assisted opener would be a knife with IKBS. Its just as fast as an assisted or switchblade but has no spring or mechanical device propelling the blade. Its basically a knife with bearings in the pivot and a heavy detent so that when you put force on the flipper the detent wont let go of the blade till enough energy has been stored to fully deploy the blade. One that is a very very good buy is the CRKT foresight. It has a very comfortable grip with a very nice palm swell. Many knives these days dont fill the hand as it seems everyone wants thinner and lighter. I have the beginnings of some nasty arthritis myself and I find the IKBS flippers to be very comfortable, fast and in the case of the foresight a lifesaver. I would also suggest seeking out a first production run example because it has an upgraded steel. I have a lot of bearing flippers including the ZT 0560, spyderco southard, Crkt Ripple, CRKT swindle and a clone of a 0777 and the CRKT foresight wins hands down for smoothness and deployment.
 
If you do find that the assisted opening knives are legal in your area I have a buddy whose dad loves his Kershaw Needs Work due to his arthritis. Might be worth a shot as they are typically pretty cheap and easily available at a lot of places locally (in most areas).
 
I think assisted open knives, and flippers in general would be a HORRIBLE pick for arthritis. They usually have a much stronger detent to get past at first. Not to mention the AO also makes closings knives harder.

I'd say a decently sized knife with grippy texture like g10 and an opening hole. Preferrably a liner lock model. The Spyderco Tenacious comes to mind. Very easy to open and close.
 
Yes, some of the easier to deploy folders are not the easiest to unlock & fold back. Are fixed blades legal in your neck of the woods?
 
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i had RA for 2 decades
extreme auto imune - i was very smart took anti inflames and all kinds of supplemts in the begining, now it is in my whole body - hips are bad. I do a double does of humera

first off, take care of then you can use any knife. i had in my hands for 20 years every joint with only min damage on few - all keeping inflamtion down. inflamation causes, liquid, that cause or catalizes the CA build up (calsium) no build up is half the issue.

Eat a lot of meat, funny hyn? but eat the end of the chicken bone, eat connective tissue or take the pills which are the same. Glus/cord with vit C and

i have taken naproxin for decades eat with it - 500mg time release. you can only handle one day but is a 2 day pill - it will ruin your stomach (TAKE CARE OF YOUR STOMACH SO YOU CAN TAKE THE PILLS THIS IS BEST ADVICE)

DRINK MILK, YA THEY TELL YA NOT TOO, but idea is protect your stomach first. mucus will protect you digestive track

if you have too in the morning or when your stomach is empty take tylanol - but do not take much - it is the woarst.

FINALLY USE YOUR HANDS, I BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF MY BODY, I DID EXTREME QUADING, SNOWMOBILING SKIING, MA, YOU NAME IT - I PUNCH AND FOREARM DOOR JAMS. I AM WELL TOUGHEND. I PUCH MY MY HOUSE FOR YEARS THE CEDAR IS FORGIVING.

WORK OUT PUSH YOUR SELF, PUSH YOUR HANDS.

NOW IF IT IS TOO LATE - ..... same as anyone else, test them out and forget price. but bigger is better and choke up and big knife. it is much easier. i use giant ktchen knives butcher of chef for small tasks

safest is naprin then ivy brophen - like the spelling ok advil - tynel is only last case morning issue.
http://osteoarthritis.about.com/od/osteoarthritis101/a/OA_RA.htm

this is RA not ostio

I have ostio too from line backer and wretling etc.

In this case you need to strech and eat well again - anti inflmation rutine is key

i am not docter but most are amazed at the lack of damage i show in X-rays
 
LARGE KNIVES ARE BEST


you loose dexiterty therefore the larger the knife less dexiterty you need -choke down on it. like baseball

it will not fall out of your hands, i drop small items easily, xmall glass dishes and cups i break a lot - LARGER IS BETTER
 
We don't know where the OP lives, so can only guess on legalities. A short fixed blade with fat handle and finger guard would be the best, in my opinion.

Folders, definitely manual as assisted could be dangerous to close. Hole is the most reliable opener. Back lock is probably the safest for two handed closing, or Axis lock perhaps. Full size Griptilian with the hole (550 model) might be ideal if releasing the lock is doable with arthritic hands. Opening hole is safer for one- or two-handed opening than thumb studs.
 
lightskyam said:
i think i'm going to try a spyderco and looking at the manix 2.
Click to expand...

A manix is probably not the best choice. While it is a great knife, you have to grip it and pinch both sides of the lock to disengage it. Bill suggestion of the BM 550 seems a good fit. The Axis is easy to manipulate with either one hand, one finger, or thumb. Or perhaps a backlock Spydie.
 
After using all the different styles of locks I would say personally that the compression lock on the Paramilitary 2 is by far the easiest. Opens smooth as butter too. Some of the Canal Street Cutlery knives I messed around with at the last knife show had a very easy pull on them if your look for a traditional style knife.
 
As always try out knives do read stupid opionons, even mine, if it works and you have sharped fine. if works and never have too sharpen then god bless!
 
Using a folding knife with arthritic hands has always posed more difficulty for me than opening the knife. That's one of the reasons I reach for fixed blade knives with good ergos like my BK16, Swamp Rat RS, CS master hunter, etc. For a comfortable folder I'd recommend (readying myself for the high end folder crew's ridicule) the Gerber Gator drop point folder in 154cm. I believe it's still made in the USA, good steel, and the handle is easy for my arthritic hands to hold for anything longer than a quick box opening. Not too pricey. The downside is it's bulky for pocket carry, but that bulk and the grippiness is what makes it comfortable in my arthritic hands.
 
Lycosa said:
Yes, to Spyderco or a Benchmade 53.
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Lightskyam, you can examples of the knives this user recommended here:

Spyderco

2145MDJwGDL._SX385_.jpg


http://amzn.to/Zre0no

and Benchmade:

21YKH88013L.jpg


http://amzn.to/10Iaqbd

Best of luck with the arthritis. Hope all is well.
 
Something assisted with carbon steel easy to sharpen. Finding something easy to sharpen will be your best bet.
 
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